Subordinate Conjunctions in Russian

Reason or Cause

  • потому что – because
Я закрыл окно, потому что стало холодно. I closed the window because it became too cold.
  • благодаря тому что – thanks to, due to the fact that
Благодаря тому, что операция была сделана вовремя, всё обошлось благополучно. Due to the fact that the operation was performed on time, all turned out well.

Purpose

  • что бы– to, in order to, so that
Я дал ему денег, чтобы он купил себе пальто.

 

Мы открыли окно, чтобы не было так жарко.

 I gave him some money to buy himself an overcoat.

We opened the window, so that it would not be so hot.

Condition

  • если– if
Если вы не понимаете, я объясню вам. If you do not understand, I will explain to you.

Concession

  • хотя (хоть) – although, though
Было приятно пойти погулять, хотя было холодно. It was nice to go for a walk, although it was cold.
  • впрочем– however, but then
Мы можем пойти пешком; впрочем, как хотите. We can go on foot, but then as you wish.

Comparison

  • чем– than (used with the comparative degree)
Эта книга интереснее, чем та. This book is more interesting than the other one.

A number of conjunctions are used to express as; like; as if:

как

as, like
как будто  

 

as if
как будто бы
будто
будто бы
как бы
  1. Как expresses a close comparison:
Он говорит как русский. Не speaks like a Russian.
Служите мне, как вы ему служили. (Пушкин) Serve me as you served him.

Sometimes, the comparison is more remote:

Вода как зеркало. The water is like a mirror.
  1. (Как) будто, (как) будто бы clearly express a hypothetical comparison.
Вы говорите, как будто вы ничего не знаете. (present) You are speaking, as if you don’t know anything.
  1. Как бы also is used to express a hypothetical idea:
Он остановился, как бы не зная, что делать. Не stopped as if he did not know (as if not knowing) what to do.
  • настолько … насколько– as … as
Oн настолько же умён, насколько (и) образован. Не is as clever as he is well educated.
  • не так … как or не настолько … насколько – not as … as
Он не так умён, как образован. Не is not as clever as he is well educated. (He is more edu­cated than clever.)
  • чем …тем – the … the
Чем раньше вы придёте, тем лучше. The earlier you come the better.
  • ли – whether, if

   (a) This conjunction is used in sentences which express a desire to find out something. It is used with verbs such as: спросить (to ask); узнать (to learn); выяснить (to find out), and also with хотеть знать (to want to know). For example:

Он спросил, пришли ли письма. Не asked whether the letters had come.
Надо выяснить, можно ли рассчитывать на него. We have to find out whether one can count on him.
Я хочу знать, есть ли здесь гараж. I want to know if there is a garage here.

   (b) Ли also indicates doubt, uncertainty. It is used with many negated verbs.

He знаю, стоит ли писать об этом. I don’t know whether it is worthwhile writing about it.
Я не помню, говорил ли я вам. I don’t remember if I told you.
Она не пишет, приезжают ли дети. She does not write whether the children are coming.

   (c) Ли is used after: неизвестно (not known); непонятно (not clear, incomprehensible); неясно (not clear); интересно (interesting).